Guangzhou - Beijing, flight or train?
 

Hi guys, we're going to china next summer. Mrs. 9Benua & my mother in law will stay in their hometown (taishan, guangzhou). Instead of being stuck there for 4 weeks, I'm planning to go to Beijing with my son only.

Is it better to take bullet plane or train? How much is the going rate for plane on june/july? Any chance on using points, I got Avios, AA or United.

For train, is taking 1st class worth the price compare to 2nd class? (862 cny vs 1380 cny)

First class can vary on that route a bit by train. You'll likely get something close to domestic first class airline seats. The difference is 5 across versus 4 across (first vs second class), both with ample leg room. I've done both several times, but I definitely prefer by plane as I use my club membership for food and drink (diners). United miles can be used, but not likely a good value. However, there are a few trains running on that route with international business class airplane style seats for first class at the moment, not sure if its permanent. As all things China, completely hazy. The other thing I dislike about Chinese Highspeed rail is no WiFi and using phone data is out of the question going at highspeed. So it's a long time just staring out a window at blurry objects on that route.

That being said, July and June are not the highest periods of travel but not the lowest either. So you probably don't need to book too far in advance. 9AIR a budget airline is to start service on the gz/beijing route early next year which will probably bring down the prices quite significantly.

Plane or train is a matter of personal taste.
I find second class to be fine. A lot of leg room. First class seats will be wider. for me it is not worth it but it may be for you, this is a matter of personal taste.
The poster above is referring to the Business class seats. The top seat in any high speed train. See photos here: http://www.fodors.com/news/stepbyste...let-train-6932
I never had any issue with 3G 04 4G signal on fast trains except when in remote areas where there is no service or just Edge. Every high speed train on this route (G train) has business class (2724RMB). Nothing hazy about it.

@op Plan on flying. Only a 7+ hour delay would put the train in the "win" column. 7+ hour delays actually do happen during the summer, but only ~5% of the time.

The day-time high-speed train is such a long ride. Should think about the overnight D trains that takes just over 11 hours. RMB1190 for a bed. At least 5 departures, all clustered between 8:05p and 8:30p.

I generally like trains, but HSR is pretty characterless and not much fun, plus there's nothing much to see out the window on the Guangzhou-Beijing routing. As well, at least on some HSR trains there's a constant high-pitched whirring sound that might get to you on a very long trip.

So I'd be inclined to fly. Unless I wanted a more traditional Chinese train trip just for the experience, in which case I'd take the regular overnight sleeper.

Hi guys, thanks for the replies. Btw, which website do you use to book & price compare china LCC domestic airlines ?

ctrip and elong is fine.

Or have a look here

http://ticket.9588.com/FlightTicket/Main_E.aspx

I personally don't see any benefit of doing HSR on that route as it is slower and generally no cheaper than flying.

Biz would be ok for that distance. 1st is debatable. 2nd class is a no no for me under any circumstances.

Possibly more important in your case, as has already been alluded to, there is nothing particularly memorable or romantic about the HSR.

The slow sleepers have more character about them though again for me sharing a sleeping space with strangers is a no no. The HK - BJ train has 2 birth compartments with en suite and is a really nice trip. Can't remember if that train stopped at GZ though.

For the benefit of other readers who may be inclined to take the train, note that the overnight D train from Guangzhou to Beijing does not run every day just around the weekend.
One's choice is all a matter of personal taste. I find second class perfectly fine, just about the same space as I'va had on many business class flights) and that the price difference for 1st is not worth it. But that's just me and I am paying for my tickets myself.

In 2nd class the seats themselves are fine and streets ahead in comfort and space of their equivalents in the West, no argument there.

There's no way of saying this without sounding snobbish :D but I just find the 2nd class experience grim. Luggage and limbs sprawled everywhere, never ending stench of convenient noodles and stinky tofu from 100 personal picnics, constant stream of people passing through the carriage (1st carriages as far as I know are located by the drivers cab so are dead ends), people with standing tickets hovering over your seat and of course some dubious personal hygiene.

Then of course you have the toilets, but they apply to all standards of class :(

Second class on g trains is a little more civilized than the picture you portray (e.g. they don't sell 无座票or方便面). And first class is not at the front of the train, so your walkthrough problem still exists.

That having been said, the idea of spending 8 hours on a g train, even in exec class, sends shivers up my spine.

This is not my experience at all. and, as said above, first class is not at the end of the train. VIP or business class is.

Thanks for the feedback guys. I guess the 2nd class is ok as long as I can get the 2 seats near the window. My son would love the train ride, I have no preference on one over the other.

In the event that I have possibly mislead you into thinking I advise 2nd class between Guangzhou and Beijing, I want to make it crystal clear that this is not the case; you and your son would both be starving after hour 5, and there isn't much to see out the window.